Custom Orthotics

Custom orthotics are shoe inserts designed specifically for your individual foot type. They can relieve pain in your feet, knees, hips, and sometimes low back, by addressing poor alignment, poor shock absorption, or a structural fault that may be genetic or caused from injury or overuse. They can improve your ability to walk and run without pain and reduce injury.

Custom Orthotics

Custom orthotics are shoe inserts designed specifically for your individual foot type. They can relieve pain in your feet, knees, hips, and sometimes low back, by addressing poor alignment, poor shock absorption, or a structural fault that may be genetic or caused from injury or overuse. They can improve your ability to walk and run without pain and reduce injury.

The most common malalignment problem is over pronation, reducing your body’s ability to efficiently propel itself forward. This is also known as “flat feet”. Flat feet may cause other problems such as bunions, tendonitis, neuromas (pain under the forefoot and middle toes), plantar fasciitis (heel and arch pain), posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (very flat foot and pain under the inside of the lower leg and arch), and contribute to overloading one side of your knee joint and aggravating arthritis pain.

The opposite extreme is a supinated foot, in which the arch is very high. People with high arches may also get plantar fasciitis, as well as joint pain, Achilles tendonitis, and low back pain.

Custom orthotics are made to fit your feet. A physical therapist specially trained in gait analysis and orthotic design will evaluate you. This will include taking a history of your problem, assessing your current range of motion, strength, foot appearance, alignment issues, and observing you walk and/or run, as well as evaluating the appropriateness of your current shoes. After all of these measurements, a cast will be made of your feet, and the best type of orthotic to make for your particular problem will be designed. A lab will then fabricate the orthotic device, and you will be fitted ~2-3 weeks later, and any adjustments necessary will be made.